Get Informed: Zantac
Active Ingredient(s)
Ranitidine
What does it do?
This product is primarily used in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers, esophageal reflux and esophagitis. It works by blocking the stimulation of acid producing gastric cells.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-21 2:13 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:52 PM
Other Names
- Zantac
- Ranitidine
- Zantac 150 Maximum Strength
- Ranidine
- Zanidex
- Ranitidine Hydrochloride
- Ranitide
- Ranacid
- Rantacid
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- B
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 09 Jun 1983
- Est US Patients*
- 3,456,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- Yes
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Zantac or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Zantac
There have been no alerts regarding Zantac during the past year.
Zantac Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Zantac interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Zantac used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 20,200 patients that use Zantac (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Heartburn / GERD | 92% | 
|
| Other | 8% |
|
How well does Zantac work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 20,200 users taking Zantac (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 87%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Zantac outweigh the bad things.
- 7%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Zantac.
Common Side Effects of Zantac
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 20,200 users taking Zantac (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
10% of patients experience side-effects on Zantac
< 1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Zantac
Most Common Side Effects...
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Dryness
Global Patient Feedback for Zantac (Ranitidine) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Before ranitidine I thought I had angina at least some of the time. With ranitidine for GERD I almost never have what I thought might have been angina.
78 year old Male
Posted: 2009-11-04 08:34:20
Question/Comment:
I have severe LPR and I have been taking ranitidine and nexium
for 6 weeks with no apparant improvement. I also am taking red yeast rice for high cholesterol and am wondering if this could be interfering with the protein pump inhibitors and causing them to be ineffective.
Thank you,
Female 68
69 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-10 13:22:36
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Red yeast rice has similar properties to a "statin" cholesterol drug called lovastatin. As a result, red yeast rice along with Nexium may have a drug interaction that increases the muscle toxicity risk from the red yeast rice (lovastatin). If you experience any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by fever, you should stop taking the red yeast rice immediately. There is no clinical data to support red yeast rice interacting with ranitidine or Nexium to make them less effective.
Posted: 2009-11-05 22:00:41
Question/Comment:
none
33 year old Male
Posted: 2009-09-22 21:05:55
Question/Comment:
I have asthma like symptoms, loss of breath and dizziness. I also "puke" up a thick substance that burns the back of my throat. When I breathe in it feels like something is burning my lungs. I cannot take any type of rescue inhaler (as I am allergic severely.) I have not had an appointment as of yet with a stomach doctor. I have been to a pulmonary doctor and tested "very mild asthma." I do not feel out of breath all of the time, only when I slightly exert myself, and about thirty minutes after I eat. I was wondering if anybody else have heard of this, or might be able to give me some insight. I bout Zantac 150 this night, along with GasX after reading some post that this might be able to help me (based upon my symptoms.) Can anybody relate or direct me in this matter, I would be greatly appreciated! :D
28 year old Male
Posted: 2009-09-21 23:05:10
Question/Comment:
I take a calcium pill twice a day. Does Zantac lesson the absorption of the calcium?
59 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-21 15:21:04
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
There are various forms of calcium that may potentially decrease the level of Zantac in your body when these two medications are taken together. It is not known if this interaction affects how well Zantac controls your symptoms. You may be able to minimize this interaction by first taking your Zantac at its regular time each day and then take your calcium 1 or 2 hours later.
Posted: 2009-07-22 00:13:34
Answer/Reply:
I don't know, great question though.
52 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-18 13:02:28
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
37
Patient Comments about
Zantac